The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area Engine Shop Multi-carb "Bolt" in a Belair

Have any of you ever seen a multi-carb 235 in a 1957 Belair or similar model?

Of course though I'll admit not many. Most shoe box Chevy guys are V8 crazy. Check out Inliners, Int'l and you'll find all kinds of multi-carb application.

While not a 57, I'm putting on 2x2 using an Offy manifold on my 56 BA. The only thing you have to concern yourself with is hood clearance when choosing an air cleaner. On mine I'm using a 2 barrel adapter between the carbs and intake. This turns out to be the same height as the stock 1 bbl on the stock intake. since I had put a 2" air cleaner on the original 1 bbl when I first got the car I know I can use a 2" air cleaner on my new set up. The 57 hood may have less clearance than the 56, so you maybe you could build shorter adapters, have someone modify the stock intake so a 2 barrel would bolt right one, use 2 1 barrels on the Offy. The reason I'm only mentioning 2 carbs is because in my case that is the most I can put on and run A/C.

I have a pic I clipped from Rod and Custom a couple of years ago. It is a '55 150 sedan with a built 235 (dual Offy, Fentons, etc.) Looks pretty nice.

I am concerned about the hood clearance... I'm using dual two-barrel carter webbers with 1 to 2 adapters. I'm considering cutting the bases for the carb pads on the offy or finding a old nicoson or edmunds intake. If I cut the filters the unit will fit under the hood, but I still have to contend with the engine's "rock 'n roll."

thanks

[img]http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v247/Hotrod6/HW_Carbs02.jpg[/img]
Squint real hard and and my 47 will look like a Tri-five! H/W's will clear the hood on your 57. I can send you measurments(overall heigth above the valve cover)if you would like!

Try a ball of clay on top of the air cleaners or top of the carb and closed the hood. This will give you an accurate measurment of hood clearence after you retreve the compressed clay and measure its thickness.

Consider machining materal off both sides of the carb adaptor flanges? The thick fiber gasket can also be eliminated to gain room.

I have seen a 57 and several 56's with the set-up and all clears the hood...But don't know if modifications were made to make it all fit.

I've already committed to using the carter webers, so I will have to make them work. Hotrod, did you use adaptors? I can barely notice them. Mine appear to be taller. I was going to get the h/w's but the c/w's were brand new units and were equipped with electric chokes. Do your h/w's have electric chokes? I currently have the front clip off of the car, however, I can tell that the front unit will not clear. I think your idea will work... if I machine down both sides of the adaptors plus the carb pads I should be able to gain enough clearance. (By the way, nice six-shooter)

Thanks for the tips fellas.

BelairBolt,

My carbs are H/W's with electric chokes and the adapters are there. Camara angle doesn't show them well in that shot. All the stuff was from Langdon's. The combined height of the H/W's are lower than the Rot-chester's they replaced!

I would install the front clip and hood on the vehical before cutting anything! The bolt was the standard engine in 57 and it fit! Like camera angle, eyeball measuring can be decieving!

Measure once, Measure twice, Measure somemore, then cut!

Amen, HR6. I suppose I'm getting a little ahead of myself. In the next couple of days I plan on painting my splash pan, core support and inner fenders with por-15 and por top coat. Hopefully within a week or so I'll have her running. The '57 Belair hood line is significantly lower than the '55 and '56. The offy is at least 3/4" taller than the stock manifold. I sure hope I'm wrong, but I don't think I'll have enough clearance without somekind of modification. I have corresponded with Don Curling, owner of a '57 Pontiac with a 235 equipped with multiple h/w's, and he told me he had to deck the offy manifold and modify the front motor mounts. I suppose I should quit blowing hot air and get down to business. Do any of you guys know where I can find a good dipstick tube for my 235?

thanks again,
shawn

I made a dip stick tube out of a piece of aluminum tubing I found at the Ace Hardware. It was about 12" long. Of course I had to measure the diameter I needed. I filled the crankcase with oil and measured how long the tube needed to be so with the dip stick in it, it would show full. I then cut the tube about 1/2" longer so it would tap into the block. I flaired it slightly on the open end for looks and polished it, since it was aluminum. I then tapped it lightly into the block. I put the dipstick in and it showed full right on the money!

That's a great idea. You guys make up a veritable fount of knowledge. 6overTx, do you have a pic of that tube? You should consider selling those bad boys.

What's the oil capacity for a 235? Do you add a qt for an old oil canister?

thanks

With those 2 big pots I had a serious clearence problem and did a dang in my hood (sic)

Talked to Tom Langdon and he says, that I do`nt need the thick insulator pads, just a gasket.

Now they fit.

I also grinded down the carb adaptors at an angle so they dont have the same slant like the engine. Just to keep the gas level straight in the bowls and for peace of mind ;.)


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